Blue Valentine (2010)

Both Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling have garnered reputations over the last few years for being two of the most talented and fearless young actors in the business. Blue Valentine tells the story of a doomed romance, and is a wonderful showcase for their respective talents, but it is not an easy watch. Painfully honest and emotional the film doesn't shy away from the pain and the suffering that is caused at the end of a relationship. Thankfully director (and co-writer) Derek Cianfrance has a deft touch and a feel for mood that wisely holds the film back from simply becoming an exercise in voyeuristic suffering.
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Williams and Gosling play Dean and Cindy, a couple with a young daughter and a chequered history. Dean is a likeable slacker, laid back and easy going his lack of ambition a badge of honour. Cindy is more highly strung, ambitious and slightly cold she is the harder of the two to  engage with, especially early on in the film, but as Cianfrance peels back the layers we see the complexity in both characters. Dean's passiveness is holding Cindy back, and the resentment she feels is at least understood, if not justified. The pair make compelling, human characters that resonate long after the film has finished. Much has been made of the performances in the film, and rightly so. Both Gosling and Williams are remarkable, creating complex, nuanced people out of mere looks, the transition from the intercut scenes of the couple's initial meeting and early relationship is effectively counterbalanced against the modern day scenes, and it is because of the performances that this works so well. Neither is afraid of looking bad, or being likeable and it is a refreshing, if sobering look at relationships. That being said the film is not all doom and gloom, it has some beautiful moments and is interested in a lot more than watching these characters suffer.
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The film has a claustrophobic, saturated look that fits perfectly. The cinematography veers between warm and cold, based on the scene, but never strays far from realistic tones. Great as the performances are they are not flashy and the same goes for the supporting cast, who largely exist to populate the world. The soundtrack, provided by the group Grizzly Bear is equally impressive, not overpowering it underscores the emotion effectively.
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As an adult drama, and a moving and carefully constructed view at modern relationships Blue Valentine is a success. It successfully navigates many of the potential pitfalls of the genre, refraining from melodrama or overdoing the emotion. It shows, rather than tells and isn't afraid to put the blame at the feet of either of its characters. Real life can be hopeful and beautiful, but messy and painful too and I think the film captures the transition from one to the other with grace and understanding.